Local government support schemes
Beyond national schemes, cities, counties and districts run their own. Always check.
Support you may find
- Local currency and voucher support
- Housing and moving cost support
- Birth and childcare grants — varying by authority.
- Additional education and school meal support
- Medical cost support — some authorities add to the national schemes.
- Programmes for foreign residents — Korean classes, counselling, festivals.
- Employment and start-up support
How to find them
- Check the "welfare" or "foreign resident support" menu on your city, county or district website.
- Ask at your community centre — the most reliable source.
- Search by region on Bokjiro. See bokjiro.
- Check the local authority app or social media.
- Ask a foreign residents' support centre or family centre. See local-foreigner-centers.
Check when you move
- Support differs by area. After moving, check the new area's schemes again.
- Many have residence period requirements.
- You must register your new address to qualify. See arc-address-change.
Where to go
- Community centre (the most reliable route)
- Your city, county or district welfare department
- 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre
- Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
- 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (multilingual)
Questions people ask
Can foreign residents receive local support? It varies by authority and by scheme. Many are aimed specifically at foreign residents, so do ask at the community centre.
I want to see everything at once. Asking at the community centre — "is there any support I can receive?" — is the fastest route. The counselling desk will guide you.
Korean is difficult for me. Ask 1577-1366 or a local foreign residents' centre for interpretation.
The application period has passed. Many schemes accept applications year-round. Don't give up — ask.
Take care
Most local support must be applied for — it is not paid automatically. After moving, always ask at the new community centre; support from your previous area usually stops. Some schemes close early once the budget runs out, so apply as soon as you see the notice.
Related
welfare-eligibility-check · bokjiro · regional-support · seoul-support · local-foreigner-centers
Source
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr / As of 2026-08